Scoop



April 9, 1940. E. R. BARRTT SGOOP Filed se t. 15, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 N W WW Q I IN VENTOR 7M 52 mm April 9, 1940.

E. R. BARRETT ,l96,690

SCOOP Filed Sept. 15, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hlyn (ld ,Barrez Y A TTORNE Ys Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCOOP Application september 15, 1937, Serial No. 164329 6 Claims.

My invention relates to ground working equipment, and particularly to a device for digging, transporting, dumping and grading with a minimum of effort and with Simplified mechanism.

Scoops carried by Wheels having dumping, loadng and digging positions have been made and furnished to the trade heretofore' The scoop is carried by Wheels and is drawn by a tractor which provides the power for moving m the apron and scoop to various positions. In view of the various positions required of the scoop, that is digging, hauling and dumping, the constructions were usually such that one or the other of the positions were selected as desirab'le,

15 or a medium was chosen in which all the positions of the scoop were in positions other than the most desirable.

In practicing my invention, I have devised a support for the scoop which itself may be adjusted to thereby provide the most desirable position when scraping and also when hauling and dumping. When scraping, the front end of the scoop is lowered, and I have arranged the mounting for the opposite end of the scoop so 25 that it also may be lowered to thereby control the angle at which the digging blade is presented to the ground when moved. While obtaining the desired angle for digging in this manner, I am also able to obtain the desired road clearance 30 through the raising of both ends of the scoop When adjusting it to Carrying position. The construction is such that the weight of the load is balanced over the axle of the frame support which is near the supporting wheels. When the 35 entire scoop is raised in this manner and when a pivot is employed near the front end of the scoop, I obtain a very desirable dumping position for the scoop, one which provides a leveling feature which is also adjustable. The power for moving the scoop to the various positions is well balanced so that a minimum of effort is required to effect the shifting of the frame and scoop to its various positions.

This unique construction is obtained by mounting the ends of the frame on bell cranks, one end of which is supported on the Wheels, the other end of which may or may not be rotated relative to the frame. In this manner the rear end of the frame adjacent to the wheels may or may not be lowered during the operation of the scoop by automatic control means regulated through the control valves commercially employed in the art. When the valve is actuated to lower the scoop to digging position. the apron is first 5 opened to separate the edges thereof from the blade which operation locks the scoop against tilting movement and shifts a detent to permit the bell Crank to rotate relative to the frame and the scoop is lowered bodily into digging position. oo When the scoop is raised bodily, the gate is closed and the scoop is looked in Carrying, position directly over the end of the frame, providing a balanced load condition. When dumping, the gate remains in closed position While the scoop is operated and the detent looks the frame and 5 bell Crank to retain the scoop in raised position. The scoop will be rotated about the shaft at the end of the bell cranks by the same Operating devices that moved it to digging position to dump. the earth forward of the scoop, the blade of which may be employed to level the dirt so dumped.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are; to provide a scoop in which the digging, Carrying and dumping positions are of the desired efliciency; to provide a scoop which is tilted into digging position and lowered bodily toward the ground; to provide a scoop which when raised from digging position is tilted and raised to horizontal position with the load distributed over the end of the frame; to provide a scoop which may be lowered bodily With means for retaining the scoop in its raised position when being tilted forwardly to dump the ground transported thereby; to provide a scoop having various positions with interlocking means for automatically changing the position of the supporting mechanism therefor through the operation of the valves to effect such a change; to provide means for moving a scoop to digging position which means is also effective to move the scoop to dumping position; and in general, to provide a ground working device which is simple in construction, positive and eflicient in operation in all positions and which is economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be specifically pointed Out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following 40 description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view in perspective of a i ground working device embodying features of my invention, illustrated secured to a power unit with the device in diggin position.

F'ig. 2 is a broken side view, in perspective, of the structure illustrated in Figure l, with the device in Carrying position;

Fig. 3 is a broken view of the structure illus- 0 trated in Figure 1, with the device in dumping and leveling position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear view, in perspective, of the structure illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional-view of the struc- 66 ture illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 5 -5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, 'showing a modified form thereof; oo

Fig. '1 is a view of the control circuit employed with the structure illustrated in Flg. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7 with the valve shown in its other position.

The ground working device of my invention e'mbodies, in general, a U-shaped frame lu having a shaft ll extending across the rear ends and a draw-bar l2 provided on its front end; A pair of bellcranks |3 are welded to the shaft il and provided with Wheels |4 pivoted at |5 to the rear ends of the bellcranks. The opposite ends 25 of the bellcranks |3 are pivoted to the scoop 25 on a. set of pivot pins I'I and have locking bars |5 also pivoted thereon. The locking bars are provided with recesses Is which may project over studs IS secured to brackets 2| which are attached to the frame. The ends of the shaft ll pivotally carry locking arms 22 provided with detents 23 which are projectable to embraoe studs 24 mounted on each side of the scoop 25. The scoop 25 is supported on the ends 25 of the bellcranks, and is raised and lowered as a unit as the bellcranks are rotated which also raises and lowers the rear end of the frame ln.

An apron 21 projects frontwardly of the scoop 25 having arms 28 on each side thereof, which curve downwardly at 29, and are pivoted to the bellcrank arms on pivots 3 l. The hydraulic jacks 32 are pivoted at one end to the arms 25-at 33, the piston rods 34 thereof being pivoted to the lock bars 22 at 35. The pivot 35 also carries a link 35 connected to the locking lever |5 at 35a.

- Suitable control conductors 31 and 38 deliver fiuid to .opposite ends of the cylinders 32.

Another pair of hydraulic jacks 4I each have one end pivoted at 42 to brackets 43 on the side elements of the frame lu, and have the piston rods 44 thereof pivoted at 45 to the upper edge of the scoop 25. Suitable conductors 45 *and 41 deliver the fluid to and from the opposite ends of the cylinders. The pairs of conductors 31 and 38 and 45 and 41, respectively, are cross connected and are joined by conductors 48 and 49 and 5| and 52, respectively, and to the fluid supply system 53 of the power unit. The supply device 53 contains valves, a pump, manifold and the control levers for controlling the flow of fluid through the jacks and may be similar in construction to that illustrated and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 198372, filed March 30, 1938, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Stop elements 54 are carried by the arms 25 of the bellcrank |3 for positioning the locking links |5 in position to engage the studs le of the frame. Stops limit the movement of the locking arm 22 relative to the bellcranks l3. The scoop 25 is provided with recesses or Wheel housings 55 in which the Wheels |4 are received clear of the sides of the scoop so that it can be drawn adjacent to the side of a cut. The provision of the recesses detracts only slightly from the dirt hauling capacity of the scoop.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have illustrated the ground working device in digging position. In this instance both of the jacks 32 and 4| have the pistons retracted, the pistons of the jacks 32 being drawn inwardly first to raise the apron 21 and to operate the locking bars 22. The locking bars engage the -pin 24 and prevent the tilting of the scoop relativeto its pivot on the end 26 of the bellcrank. Tfie operation of the Jacks 4| draws the piston rods 44 within the cylinders to tilt the scoop 25, together with the bellcranks l3 about the shaft ll, which lowers the rear end of the frame ll and the arm portions 25 of the bellcranks to tilt and lower the scoop bodily. The rotation' of the bellcranks |3 is possible because of the movement of the locking bars 22 which moves the links 35 to tilt the locking .levers I5 so that the recessed ends ll thereof pass the projections IS on the frame. The power unit then draws the device along the ground to have the blades 51 carried by the forward end of the scoop bottom effect a digging operation.

As the scoop is loaded, a 'portion of the dirt Will fall forward upon the apron 21, and after the apron and scoop are loaded the jacks 4| are actuated to have the piston rods extended as illustrated in Fig. 2. At the same time, the jacks 32 are actuated to extend the piston rods 34 to close the apron against the blade 51 to retain the dirt Within the scoop. 'The bellcranks 'l3 are rotated clockwise to raise the scoop and further movement of the ram 32 moves the locking bars' 22 from the projections 24 and the links |5 in a position to have the recesses |8 engage the projecting pins IS. The load raised in this manner is directly over the rear end of the frame and rests upon the shaft ll adjacent to the Wheels I4. This provides a desirable load carrying condition with the load remote from the draw head |2 and the rear end of the power unit.

After a load has been transported to a point where it is to be dumped, the jacks-4| are actuated to have the rods 44 thereof drawn within the cylinders to directly tilt the scoop 25 forwardly about the pivot on the ends 25 of the bellcranks |3 to dump the dirt forward from the scoop. The pivots on the arms 25 are in raised position so that the blade and sides of the scoop will not contact the ground and is so adjusted as to have the blade disposed in a position to level the dirt as it falls forwardly from the scoop during the forward movement of the power unit. As the jacks 4l are actuated, the bellcrank arms |3 are prevented from rotating due to the recesses 8 of the look levers |5 engaging the projectng pins l9 on the frame. After the dirt is dumped and leveled in this manner, the jacks 4| may again be actuated to have the piston rods thereof extended to tilt the scoop 25 in a clockwise' direction about the pivot on the ends 25 of the bellcrank I3 into dirt hauling position, as illustrated -in Fig. 2.

' studs 52 extending therefrom for receiving the shaft and bearing caps. The shaft ll is pivoted within the bearings on the ends of the frame w while the bellcranks |3 are welded directly to the shaft. The locking bar 22 is pivoted on'the shaft ll for rotary movement.

Referring to Fig's. 6, '7 and 8, I have shown a modified form of the device, wherein the hydraulic Jacks 32 are omitted, the apron 21 having projections 53 On each side, which engage the frame HI when the scoop 25 is moved downwardly to dirt digging position to thereby separate the lip of the apron from the blade of the scoop. The apron is free to be lifted from the frame when moved to carrying position. To control the operation of the locking bars 22 and locking levers l5 which are connected by the links 35. I provide a cylinder 54 on each of the bellcranks l3 having a plunger 55 therein and connect conductors 55 to the cylinders. The conductors connect the cylinders 54 to a control lever which is operated before the operation areaeeo dirt digging position. When the ground has been loaded. and transported, to dump the load, it is only necessary to actuate the valve to deliver the fluid to the cylinder ll to have the scoop operate to dump the load. It is to be understood that a link system connected in extension of the link 36 could be employed in lieu of the plunger and cylinder 64 and have a control handle therefor positioned adjacent to-the power supply device where it could be operated when the device is to be employed for digeine.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have illustrated the control circuit to be employed with the device shown in Fig. 6. The operation of a valve 61 controls the flow of fluid from a circuit 68 and power device 69. When the valve is turned to the position illustrated in Fig. 7, fluid will be delivered to both of the pairs of cylinders 64 and cylinders ll. Pressure must be built up in the cylinders M to eflect a movement of the scoop and while this is occurring, the plungers 65 in the cylinders 64 will be actuated to move the locking bars 22 to engage the projeetions 24 on the scoop 25. When the scoop is to be moved to dump position from a Carrying position, the valve 61 is turned to the position illustrated in Fig. 8. In this position, no fluid will be supplied to the cylinder 64 and the locking levers IS will be effective to prevent the bellcranks 3 from rotating and the scoop will be tilted about the pivots on the arm portions 26 of the bellcranks. With the latter system, the control is materially Simplified through the elimination of the hydraulic jacks 32 along with the conductors and control valves therefor. The cylinders 64 and plungers 65 are inexpensive units which are Controlled directly from the valve which Controls the operation of the jacks ll.

While I have described and illustrated but two embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions, and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a ground working device embodying a frame, a first set of pivots supported near the end of said frame, bellcranks supported on said pivots having an arm extending in either direction therefrom, wheels mounted on the rearwardly extending arms, a scoop, a second set of pivots mounting said scoop on the forwardly extending arms of said bellcranks, means for tilting said scoop about either or said sets oi' pivots, and control means for locking the scoop to the bellcranks in one instance and the bellcranks to the frame in another instance to select the set of pivots about which the scoop will tilt.

2. In a ground working device embodying a frame, a first set of pivots supported near the end of said frame, bellcranks supported on said pivots having an arm extending in either direction therefrom, wheels mounted on the rearwardly extending. arms, a scoop, a second set of pivots mounting said scoop on the forwardly extending arms of said bellcranks, means for tilting said scoop about either of said sets of,

pivots, an apron for said scoop, means i'or operating said apron control means ior lockingthe scoop to the bellcranks in one instance and the bellcranks to the frame in another instance, saidapron Operating means controlling said locking means to select the set of pivots about which the scoop will tilt.

3. In a ground working device embodying a frame, a first set of pivots supported near the end of said frame, bellcranks supported on said pivots having an arm extending in either direction therefrom, wheels mounted on the rearwardly extending arms, a scoop, a second set of pivots mounting said scoop on the :forwardly extending arms of said bellcranks, means for tilting said scoop about either of said sets of pivots, rigid locking bars interposed between said frame and said bellcranks, locking arms on said bellcrank pivots for engaging said scoop, and common means for controlling both of said locking means to select the set of pivots about which the.

scoop will tilt.

4. In a ground working device embodying a rame, a first set of pivots supported near the end of said frame, bell cranks supported on said pivots having an arm extending in either direcand locking arms to select the set of pivots about which the scoop will tilt.

5. In a ground working device embodying a frame, a first set of pivots supported near the end of said frame, bell cranks supported on said pivots having an arm extending in either direction therefrom, wheels mounted on the rearwardly extending arms, a scoop, a second set of pivots mounting said scoop on the forwardly extending arms of said bellcranks, means for tilting said scoop about either of said sets of pivots, an apron for said scoop, means for Operating said apron, means for locking the scoop to the bellcranks in one instance and the bellcranks to the frame in another instance, said apron operating means controlling both of said locking means to select the set of pivots about which the scoop will tilt.

6. In a ground working device embodying a fr'ame, bell crank assemblies each including a bell crank and means for pivotally mounting said bell Crank on said frame, said bell cranks each having a forwardly and a rearwardly extending arm, wheels mounted on said rearwardly extending arms, a scoop, pivotal means on said forwardly extending arms i'or mounting said scoop', means for tilting said scoop about either its own pivotal mounting or the pivotal mounting of said bell Crank arm assemblies, rigid locking bars interposed between said frame and said bell cranks, locking arms on said bell crank assemblies for engaging said scoop, and common means for controlling said locking means to select the pivotal mounting about which the scoop will tilt. 

